Improved school desk and seat



UNITED STATES CALVIN W. SHERWOOD,

0E cIIIoAGo, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED SCHOOL DESK AND SEAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,466, dated November 6, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN W. SHERwooD, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School-Desks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side or end view of lthe desk in position; Fig. 2, the same view with desk folded; Fig. 3, a top View of the shelf with a portion removed, and showing top of arm at one end; Fig. 4, a top view and an inside view of the seat-arm 5 Fig. 5, an outside view of a portion of the seat-arm with axle inserted, and Fig. 6 a top view of the jointed brace detached.

Like letters refer to the same parts in all of the figures.

My invention does not go to the extent of claiming a folding seat, broadly, as that has been done heretofore, but to the method of folding the seat by the nave and axle fitted as hereinafter more fully described, and in the new arrangement-and combination of the several parts shown, so as to fold down the top and shelf of the desk.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention and my school-desk, I.

will describe its construction and operation.

The standards A are made of cast-iron, and suiiciently long to bring the desk to the required height. On the side to which the seat is attached a projection with circular head, B, is cast, so as to bring the seat a proper distance from the floor; and on the inside of this projection an axle, B', is cast, which projects at right angles with the side of the circular head B about one inch. This axle is made upon two circles having a common center, one half having a radius of about one-halt` of one inch, and the other half having a radius of about three-fourths of one inch, as shown in Fig. 5, and by the red lines in Figs. l and 2. To these axles B are attached seat-arms C by means of naves C',

which are also made internally on two circles. Three-fourths of the distance around the circle is the same as the larger one of the axle, and one-fourth the same as the smaller, so that when tted onto the axle it will turn only onefourth of the distance around it.

This arrangement of the axle and nave produces shoulders 7c and l, which operate as stops, and hold the seat firmly when it is either up or down 5 and when it is desired to avoid noise, I attach strips of rubber or leather to the shoulders 7c la of the axle. And if itis desired to make the seat stationary, a quadrant or wedge is placed in the space 5 and when the arms are attached to the seat D it will be impossible for them to get out of place, and they can readily be changed from a rigid to a folding seat by unscrewing the arms from the seat.

The arms are attached to the seat by inserting screws through the brackets i t. The seatback E, top I and J, and shelf' K are also attached by similar screws and brackets.

At the upper end of the standard short arms are attached, to which the stationary part J of the top is attached, and to which the arms H are pivoted at h. The arms H are attached by an ordinary hinge-joint, and support the folding part I of the top of the desk. They are supported by the jointed braces F, which are hinged to them at g and to the standards at f., The distance between the joints h and g and h and f should be the same.

The-braces F- are jointed with a knucklejoint, e, at the middle, and the location of the joints is such that the braces would remain in position when the top is elevated if there were sufficient weight on or in the top but in order to insure their proper action, and keep them in place in case of any lifting or hitting of the top from below, so that the braces would close from their own weight, l attach to the lower section a lip or projection, a, which extends upward about halt' of the length of the upper section, and fasten them by slipping out the pins d, which are attached to each end of the shelf K. The desk then will not close however much the desk may be lifted or shaken.

On the inside of the lower sections l also attach or cast the projections or ledges b, which support the shelf K, and in their action, being opposed to the pins d, keep the braces iirm.

The shelf K is hinged by means of the arms G to the standards at j, and the pins d pass through the holes cin these arms. When the pins are Withdrawn, the shelf has insome respects independent movements, and in -'olding slides upon the ledges b.

In operation, when it is desired to raise the seat, it is simply lifted. When it is'de'sired.

to fold the top, the pins d are withdrawn and the braces F brought outward, so that the joint e will be below the line of the joints g and f, when it will fold by its own weight, thus making a complete desk which is not much more expensive than a rigid one, as it is much more easily cast, and one which is particularly desirable in schools Where gymnastics are practiced, and Where lectures and exhibitions are' givenin the sameroom, or religious service held; and itis also convenient in sweeping or cleansing the room.

Having thus fully described my desk, I will point out what is new, and WhatIclaim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The joint composed of the nave C and axle B,constrncted and operating substauf tially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The arrangement and combination of the Aarms C, naves G', and axle B with the seat D and standards A, substantially as specified.

3. The jointed braces F, when provided With lips a and ledges b, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination and arrangement of the ledges b, lips a, and pins d with the braces F and hinged shelf K, substantially as specified.

5. The arrangement and combination of the hinged arms H, jointed braces F, and hinged arms G with the standards A and desk-top I J, substantially as and for the purposes speci- CALVIN W. SHERWOOD. Witnesses:

E. A. WEsT, L. L. BOND. 

